Niggaz4Life (also known as Efil4zaggin as per album cover art, stylized in all caps and horizontally mirrored) is the second and final studio album by gangsta rap group N.W.A, released on May 28, 1991. It was their final album, as the group disbanded later the same year after the departure of Dr. Dre and songwriter The D.O.C. to form Death Row Records; the album features only four members of the original line-up, as Arabian Prince and Ice Cube had already left the group in 1988 and 1989 respectively. Niggaz4Life debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, but in its second week peaked at number 1.[2]
In 1992, several months after the release of the album, N.W.A released a video named Niggaz4Life: The Only Home Video, which chronicled the making of the album and its three music videos, "Alwayz into Somethin'", "Appetite for Destruction" and "Approach to Danger".
In 2002, the CD was re-released in two formats. Both had the EP 100 Miles and Runnin' appended to the end of the original track listing, but one was available with a DVD copy of Niggaz4Life: The Only Home Video.
In comparison to its predecessor, the album was also heavier on misogyny, for which it became notorious. The songs on the album's second half featured more profanity, sexist themes, and references to various sexual acts, provoking the ire of the PMRC,[3]liberal and conservative politicians, and civil rights activist C. Delores Tucker.[4]
Upon release, Niggaz4Life generally polarized music critics, as many were divided over its lyrics especially in the 2nd half of the album. The Source declared it one of their albums of the year but more mainstream publications like Rolling Stone condemned the album. In a two star review (out of five), Rolling Stone critic Arion Berger attacked Niggaz4Life as “so hateful toward women, and in such a pathetic and sleazy manner, that it’s simply tiresome.”[5] Mark Blackwell, of Spin magazine, similarly opined in his interview of N.W.A. that Niggaz4Life “wears thin pretty fast. The main problem is that the old ‘niggas’ and ‘bitches’ thing – whether offensive or not – is getting a little tired” before conceding that “Dre and Yella’s production is peerless.”[6]
In a negative review, Newsweek deemed the album "by N.W.A standards, is a mediocre work, a retreat from cinematic storytelling into simple punk bluster."[7]Time wrote, "N.W.A. raps nasty and righteous, with real ghetto heat, and doesn't give an inch," calling the album "incendiary" and "grotesque."[2]
Later DJ Yella said: “I do like the second album better than the first. The first one had more hits, but production-wise I like this one better. It would have been great if Cube would have got on that album. But it sounds better, we put more into it.”[8]
The album received more positive reviews since then, especially for the production. Tom Doggett from Rap Reviews said: “Niggaz4life is a frightening album, jammed with explosive beats, visceral skits, and inciting rhymes. There is an overwhelming sense of sensual stimulation that overcomes the room when this album is playing. The eighteen tracks move by effortlessly, jumping from shootout skits to Ice Cube disses to revolting accounts of sexual acts. Even if you are turned off, it is impossible to deny the kinetic force that exudes from this album“[9]
Jesse Ducker from Albumism also praised the production and said: ”Efil4zaggin stands as a very dope, albeit flawed, piece of work.“[10]
Ranked #1 in The Source's Top 15 Albums of 1991 list in 1991[19]
Ranked #7 in MTV's Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time list in 2005[20]
"It seemed like the craziest shit in existence to me. When I heard Eazy-E do a country and western song [Automobile], I couldn't believe the audacity and creative genius. Then, when I looked at the album cover and they were all dead, with their spirits flying out of their bodies, and the title was printed backwards so you had to put it up to the mirror to read it the right way, I said, 'These motherfuckers are crazy!'" – Busta Rhymes[21]
Commercial performanceEdit
The album debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard Top LPs chart.[22] It went on to top the Billboard 200, gaining 954,000 sales in its first week becoming the first album by a rap group to top the chart. [23]
Track listingEdit
Songwriting credits are adapted from the CD liner notes.[24] All songs produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella.[24]
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdeNamikas, Michael (July 28, 2015). "efiL4zaggiN: N.W.A.'s 4gotten Masterpiece". HipHopDX. from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
^ abCocks, J.; Donnelly, S.B. (July 1, 1991). "A nasty jolt for the top pops". TIME Magazine.
^"Popular music restrictions in america in the late 1980s/early 90s (1991)". Ed Cox. June 9, 1990. from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
^. Albany.edu. April 19, 1998. Archived from the original on September 20, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
^"Revisiting N.W.A's Second & Final Studio Album 'Efil4zaggin' (1991) | Tribute". May 26, 2021.
^Jason Birchmeier (May 28, 1991). "Niggaz4life - N.W.A | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
^Chairman Mao. . Blender. New York. Archived from the original on April 19, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
^"Robert Christgau: CG: N.W.A". Robertchristgau.com. from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
^"N.W.A." Pitchfork. October 2, 2003. from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
^Gold, Jonathan (June 2, 1991). "Cringe a Minute (Again) With N.W.A". Los Angeles Times. from the original on December 29, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
^"N.W.A. :: Efil4Zaggin :: Ruthless/Priority Records". Rapreviews.com. from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
^. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
^"STRONG WORDS FROM ICE-T AND N.W.A." washingtonpost.com. from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
^"Rap Research Archive: The Source Awards for 1991". April 4, 2010. from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
^"MTV.com". MTV. from the original on December 15, 2006. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
^Batey, Angus (October 2009). "My record collection – Busta Rhymes". Q. p. 46.
^Brandon Gaille (February 5, 2015). "25 Good Hip Hop Demographics". BrandonGaille.com. from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
^Thompson, Derek (May 8, 2015). "1991: The Most Important Year in Pop-Music History". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
niggaz4life, also, known, efil4zaggin, album, cover, stylized, caps, horizontally, mirrored, second, final, studio, album, gangsta, group, released, 1991, their, final, album, group, disbanded, later, same, year, after, departure, songwriter, form, death, reco. Niggaz4Life also known as Efil4zaggin as per album cover art stylized in all caps and horizontally mirrored is the second and final studio album by gangsta rap group N W A released on May 28 1991 It was their final album as the group disbanded later the same year after the departure of Dr Dre and songwriter The D O C to form Death Row Records the album features only four members of the original line up as Arabian Prince and Ice Cube had already left the group in 1988 and 1989 respectively Niggaz4Life debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 but in its second week peaked at number 1 2 Niggaz4LifeStudio album by N W AReleasedMay 28 1991 1991 05 28 StudioAudio Achievements Torrance California GenreWest Coast hip hop 1 gangsta rap 1 horrorcore 1 G funk 1 hardcore hip hop 1 Length55 35LabelRuthlessPriorityProducerEazy E exec Dr Dre DJ YellaN W A chronology100 Miles and Runnin 1990 Niggaz4Life 1991 Greatest Hits 1996 Singles from Niggaz4Life Alwayz into Somethin Released April 15 1991 Appetite for Destruction Released May 18 1991 The Dayz of Wayback Released 1991In 1992 several months after the release of the album N W A released a video named Niggaz4Life The Only Home Video which chronicled the making of the album and its three music videos Alwayz into Somethin Appetite for Destruction and Approach to Danger In 2002 the CD was re released in two formats Both had the EP 100 Miles and Runnin appended to the end of the original track listing but one was available with a DVD copy of Niggaz4Life The Only Home Video In comparison to its predecessor the album was also heavier on misogyny for which it became notorious The songs on the album s second half featured more profanity sexist themes and references to various sexual acts provoking the ire of the PMRC 3 liberal and conservative politicians and civil rights activist C Delores Tucker 4 Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Accolades 3 Commercial performance 4 Track listing 5 Sample credits 6 Appearances 7 Charts 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Year end charts 8 Certifications 9 References 10 External linksCritical reception EditUpon release Niggaz4Life generally polarized music critics as many were divided over its lyrics especially in the 2nd half of the album The Source declared it one of their albums of the year but more mainstream publications like Rolling Stone condemned the album In a two star review out of five Rolling Stone critic Arion Berger attacked Niggaz4Life as so hateful toward women and in such a pathetic and sleazy manner that it s simply tiresome 5 Mark Blackwell of Spin magazine similarly opined in his interview of N W A that Niggaz4Life wears thin pretty fast The main problem is that the old niggas and bitches thing whether offensive or not is getting a little tired before conceding that Dre and Yella s production is peerless 6 In a negative review Newsweek deemed the album by N W A standards is a mediocre work a retreat from cinematic storytelling into simple punk bluster 7 Time wrote N W A raps nasty and righteous with real ghetto heat and doesn t give an inch calling the album incendiary and grotesque 2 Later DJ Yella said I do like the second album better than the first The first one had more hits but production wise I like this one better It would have been great if Cube would have got on that album But it sounds better we put more into it 8 The album received more positive reviews since then especially for the production Tom Doggett from Rap Reviews said Niggaz4life is a frightening album jammed with explosive beats visceral skits and inciting rhymes There is an overwhelming sense of sensual stimulation that overcomes the room when this album is playing The eighteen tracks move by effortlessly jumping from shootout skits to Ice Cube disses to revolting accounts of sexual acts Even if you are turned off it is impossible to deny the kinetic force that exudes from this album 9 Jesse Ducker from Albumism also praised the production and said Efil4zaggin stands as a very dope albeit flawed piece of work 10 Accolades EditProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 11 Blender nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 12 Robert ChristgauC 13 Los Angeles Times nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 15 Pitchfork8 8 10 14 RapReviews9 10 16 Rolling Stone nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 17 The Washington Post favorable 18 Ranked 1 in The Source s Top 15 Albums of 1991 list in 1991 19 Ranked 7 in MTV s Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time list in 2005 20 It seemed like the craziest shit in existence to me When I heard Eazy E do a country and western song Automobile I couldn t believe the audacity and creative genius Then when I looked at the album cover and they were all dead with their spirits flying out of their bodies and the title was printed backwards so you had to put it up to the mirror to read it the right way I said These motherfuckers are crazy Busta Rhymes 21 Commercial performance EditThe album debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard Top LPs chart 22 It went on to top the Billboard 200 gaining 954 000 sales in its first week becoming the first album by a rap group to top the chart 23 Track listing EditSongwriting credits are adapted from the CD liner notes 24 All songs produced by Dr Dre and DJ Yella 24 No TitleWriter s Performer s sLength1 Prelude MC RenMC Ren Above The Law2 272 Real Niggaz Don t Die MC Ren The D O C MC Ren Dr Dre Eazy E3 403 Niggaz 4 Life MC Ren The D O C MC Ren Dr Dre Eazy E4 584 Protest Interlude 0 535 Appetite for Destruction MC Ren The D O C KokaneMC Ren Dr Dre Eazy E3 226 Don t Drink That Wine Interlude 1 077 Alwayz into Somethin MC Ren The D O C MC Ren Dr Dre4 248 Message to B A Interlude 0 489 Real Niggaz MC Ren The D O C MC Ren Dr Dre Eazy E4 2710 To Kill a Hooker Interlude 0 5011 One Less Bitch MC Ren The D O C MC Ren Dr Dre4 4712 Findum Fuckum amp Flee MC Ren The D O C CPOMC Ren Dr Dre Eazy E3 5513 Automobile Eazy EDr Dre Eazy E3 1514 She Swallowed It MC RenMC Ren4 1315 I d Rather Fuck You Eazy EEazy E3 5716 Approach to Danger MC Ren Eazy EMC Ren Dr Dre Eazy E2 4517 1 900 2 Compton Interlude Warren G1 2718 The Dayz of Wayback MC Ren The D O C MC Ren Dr Dre4 15 2002 bonus tracks 100 Miles and Runnin No TitleWriter s Performer s Length19 100 Miles and Runnin MC Ren The D O C Cold 187umMC Ren Dr Dre Eazy E4 3220 Just Don t Bite It MC RenMC Ren5 2821 Sa Prize Part 2 MC RenMC Ren Dr Dre Eazy E5 5922 Kamurshol MC RenMC Ren Dr Dre Eazy E1 56Sample credits Edit Prelude Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic by Isaac Hayes The Breakdown Part II by Rufus Thomas Real Niggaz Don t Die UFO by ESG Different Strokes by Syl Johnson Die Nigger by The Last Poets Rise Above by Black Flag Long Red by Mountain I Just Want to Celebrate by Rare Earth Synthetic Substitution by Melvin Bliss Hook and Sling by Eddie Bo Big Beat by Billy Squier Triple Threat by Z 3 MC s Niggaz 4 Life Die Nigger by The Last Poets Sir Nose d Voidoffunk Pay Attention B3M by Parliament Flashlight by Parliament N T by Kool amp the Gang Don t Worry If There s a Hell Below We re All Going to Go by Curtis Mayfield Niggers Are Scared of a Revolution by The Last Poets Cissy Strut by The Meters Fool Yourself by Little Feat Appetite for Destruction Think About It by Lyn Collins Funky Stuff by Kool and the Gang Get Me Back on Time Engine No 9 by Wilson Pickett Niggers vs the Police by Richard Pryor Don t Drink That Wine I ve Been Watching You Move Your Sexy Body by Parliament If It Ain t Ruff by N W A Alwayz into Somethin Stone to the Bone by James Brown Storm King by Bob James Sneakin in the Back by Tom Scott and The L A Express Remember by Jimi Hendrix Synthetic Substitution by Melvin Bliss Just Wanna Make A Dream Come True by Mass Production Message to B A Prelude by N W A Real Niggaz Give it Up by Kool amp the Gang Got to Be Real by Cheryl Lynn Gashman by The Last Poets The Lovomaniacs by Boobie Knight amp the Universal Lady To Kill a Hooker Can t Stay Away by Bootsy Collins One Less Bitch Zimba Ku by Black Heat Funkin 4 Jamaica by Tom Browne I m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Babe by Barry White Findum Fuckum amp Flee Rapper s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang The Breakdown Pt 1 by Rufus Thomas Automobile My Automobile by Parliament She Swallowed It Cardova by The Meters I m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Babe by Barry White That Girl is a Slut by Just Ice Slack Jawed Leroy by Leroy amp Skillet with LaWanda Page I d Rather Fuck You I d Rather Be with You by Bootsy Collins Approach to Danger AJ Scratch by Kurtis Blow Get up amp Get Down by The Dramatics Get Me Back on Time Engine No 9 by Wilson Pickett God Made Me Funky by The Headhunters Scorpio by Lalo Schifrin This Is It by Jimmy Spicer 1 900 2 Compton P Funk Wants to Get Funked Up by Parliament The Dayz of Wayback Troglodyte by Jimmy Castor Bunch Impreach the President by The Honey Drippers Players Balling Players Doin Their Own Thing by Ohio Players On the Ill Tip by LL Cool J Surprises by The Last Poets Niggaz4Life by N W AAppearances EditArtist NotesMC Ren performs on 11 tracksDr Dre performs on 9 tracksEazy E performs on 9 tracksDJ Yella performs on 1 trackCharts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1991 PeakpositionUK Albums OCC 25 25US Billboard 200 26 1US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 27 1 Year end charts Edit Chart 1991 PositionUS Billboard 200 28 50US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 29 35Certifications EditRegion Certification Certified units salesUnited Kingdom BPI 30 sales since 2002 Silver 60 000 United States RIAA 31 Platinum 1 000 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Sales streaming figures based on certification alone References Edit a b c d e Namikas Michael July 28 2015 efiL4zaggiN N W A s 4gotten Masterpiece HipHopDX Archived from the original on October 16 2017 Retrieved October 15 2017 a b Cocks J Donnelly S B July 1 1991 A nasty jolt for the top pops TIME Magazine Popular music restrictions in america in the late 1980s early 90s 1991 Ed Cox June 9 1990 Archived from the original on March 28 2016 Retrieved May 19 2016 Gangsta Misogyny by Edward G Armstrong JCJPC Volume 8 Issue 2 Albany edu April 19 1998 Archived from the original on September 20 2012 Retrieved May 19 2016 Niggaz4life Rolling Stone July 11 1991 SPIN September 1991 Leland J Buckley L July 1 1991 Number one with a bullet Newsweek N W A Reflect on Efil4zaggin 1991 s Most Dangerous Album Rolling Stone May 29 2016 N W A Efil4Zaggin Ruthless Priority Records Revisiting N W A s Second amp Final Studio Album Efil4zaggin 1991 Tribute May 26 2021 Jason Birchmeier May 28 1991 Niggaz4life N W A Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Archived from the original on September 24 2016 Retrieved May 19 2016 Chairman Mao N W A Straight Outta Compton Efil4Zaggin Blender New York Archived from the original on April 19 2010 Retrieved August 19 2015 Robert Christgau CG N W A Robertchristgau com Archived from the original on March 3 2016 Retrieved May 19 2016 N W A Pitchfork October 2 2003 Archived from the original on May 30 2016 Retrieved May 19 2016 Gold Jonathan June 2 1991 Cringe a Minute Again With N W A Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on December 29 2016 Retrieved December 29 2016 N W A Efil4Zaggin Ruthless Priority Records Rapreviews com Archived from the original on April 4 2016 Retrieved May 19 2016 N W A Niggaz4life Music Reviews Rolling Stone Rolling Stone Archived from the original on October 1 2007 Retrieved September 4 2007 STRONG WORDS FROM ICE T AND N W A washingtonpost com Archived from the original on June 24 2016 Retrieved January 1 2017 Rap Research Archive The Source Awards for 1991 April 4 2010 Archived from the original on May 25 2019 Retrieved May 25 2019 MTV com MTV Archived from the original on December 15 2006 Retrieved December 20 2016 Batey Angus October 2009 My record collection Busta Rhymes Q p 46 Brandon Gaille February 5 2015 25 Good Hip Hop Demographics BrandonGaille com Archived from the original on May 15 2016 Retrieved May 19 2016 Thompson Derek May 8 2015 1991 The Most Important Year in Pop Music History The Atlantic Retrieved July 7 2021 a b Efil4Zaggin inside sleeve Media notes N W A Ruthless Records 261 464 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Official Albums Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved October 19 2019 N W A Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved May 4 2021 N W A Chart History Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Retrieved October 19 2019 Top Billboard 200 Albums Year End 1991 Billboard Retrieved May 4 2021 Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Year End 1991 Billboard Retrieved May 4 2021 British album certifications Nwa Efil4zaggin British Phonographic Industry Retrieved January 6 2021 American album certifications N W A EFIL4ZAGGIN Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved September 7 2020 External links EditNiggaz4Life at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Niggaz4Life amp oldid 1176125035, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
